Can you keep your brain young even when you're getting older? Find out here!

Friday: Mindfulness by Miles FROM THE DESK OF MILES EVERSON: Welcome to today’s “Mindfulness by Miles” article! Every Friday, I talk about a topic or event that I find useful in my everyday life. I hope my experiences and personal interests can also help you improve your personal life or career. For today’s article, let’s focus on the topic of cognition. I believe that for us professionals, it’s important that we take care of our minds so we can function well at work. Would you like to know how you can boost your intelligence? Read the article below. I’m sharing some easy activities to help improve your IQ (intelligence quotient). CEO, MBO Partners Chairman of the Advisory Board, The I Institute

Can you keep your brain young even when you're getting older? Find out here! There’s a common misconception that our intelligence levels are fixed, and we can only be as intelligent as we’ll ever be. There’s also an assumption that our memory, cognition, and focus decline as we age. Here’s the thing: Both these brain-related myths are FALSE. In fact, researchers from the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) found that a 12-week cognitive training program conducted one hour a week, alongside two hours of homework, reversed cognitive decline in older adults. What’s this program? The Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training (SMART)! The SMART program taught participants how to block irrelevant information so they could focus on the bigger picture without getting caught up in the minor details. It also taught them to analyze issues from different viewpoints so they could enhance their mental flexibility. After 12 weeks into the program, researchers found that these techniques helped participants to develop better focus and stronger reasoning skills. According to Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman, the lead author of the SMART program: “Innovative cognition—the kind of thinking that reinforces and preserves complex decision-making, intellect, and psychological well-being—does not need to decline with age. This study reveals that cognitive training may help enhance cognitive capacities and build resilience against decline in healthy older adults.” The bottom line? It doesn’t matter much what your age is. Just because you’re getting older, that doesn’t mean you have to settle for the fact that you can be forgetful, less intelligent, etc. With some simple cognitive training, you can maintain or improve your intelligence at any age. I personally find the SMART program interesting. For me, it would be great to participate in those brain exercises and experience positive results after. … but since I wasn’t part of the program, I decided to search online for other ways to boost my intelligence levels instead. That’s when I read an article from Dave Asprey, a lifestyle guru and founder of Bulletproof Nutrition Inc. According to him, there are a few simple ways to upgrade your brain function: Play brain games. Different brain games improve different cognitive functions like memory, problem solving, critical thinking, and more. These games include: Crossword puzzles Chess Sudoku Bridge … and other creative outlets like drawing, playing musical instruments, or learning a new language. The key here is to find a variety of mentally stimulating activities that you enjoy so you’ll more likely do the activities regularly. Practice memory techniques. There are different techniques to remember something. For example: If you ask someone for a phone number, you might repeat it in your mind until you dial it, then you immediately forget about it. … or if you’re studying for a test, you might use rhymes or mnemonic devices to easily memorize or recall a few items. For others, they use the technique called, “memory palaces.” This involves visualizing things or people in a physical space that you’re familiar with, the same way one would visualize placing furniture in rooms. According to Asprey, spatial memory is a huge survival advantage for humans because visualization helps in the storage and retrieval of information in the mind. However, not all people are visual learners. So, if “memory palaces” doesn’t work effectively for you, I suggest you look for another technique to help boost your IQ or memory. Maintain a healthy diet. Your food intake plays an important role in sharpening your brain’s cognitive functions. That’s why for Asprey, it’s essential that you eat food with these brain-boosting supplements: Omega 3 Fatty Acids: These are crucial for proper brain function and development. They help improve your memory and thought processes. Medium Chain Triglyceride Oil (MCT Oil): This helps your brain function more efficiently and activate your body’s fat-burning abilities. Acetyl-L-carnitine (ACL): This acts on both your acetylcholine and dopamine functions, becoming a powerful antioxidant and cognitive enhancer. Caffeine: This helps improve your short-term memory, alertness, and cognitive function. Additionally, caffeine enables you to effectively perform math problems and improve your mood. However, you also have to limit your caffeine intake in a day because overdosing on this substance may also cause palpitations. You can get these nutrients by consuming fish, coffee, blueberries, nuts, eggs, fruits, vegetables, etc. I personally agree with doing all of Asprey’s suggestions. Sometimes, when I have spare time, I try playing a few brain games or practicing some memory techniques. I experience the positive effects of these activities on my cognition because afterwards, my brain is more keen in remembering details, my attention is more laser-focused, and my analytical skills are better. So, if you’d also like to kickstart your journey towards enhancing your intelligence levels, I recommend that you try these tips too! … and don’t disregard tip #3! Food plays a critical role in our overall health and well-being so always strive to maintain a healthy diet. Advance happy weekend, everyone! Follow us on LinkedIn.